question about mixing it up

[fedmanSix.OneTour]

If I'm trying to mix it up (slice backhand , serve and volley, looping forehand, flat forehand, dropshot), Should I, and how can I continue to stay on the offensive. I don't know if it's a strategic or a mental thing,but I always seem to be on te defensive when trying to do this.

Any tips

[kv123]

By Mixing it up there are two ways things can be taking. On one hand you have the opponent in your hands when your mixing it up. You are dictating the point. On the other hand the opponent can have you on the defensive and your hittin random shots. Thats not too good. When you hit your shot of choice that should be setting you up for the next shot to either put away or keep him moving on the defensive. Either way it sounds like you are on a good offense keeping him out of rhythm but you need to work on finishing the point.

[The Home Run Kid]

Though I am very new to tennis, I'd imagine that randomly mixing up your shots isn't a good strategy. In fact, it's not really a strategy at all. IMO, you should play what you are naturally given, and find the best way to make the best offensive shot you can with that ball, instead of trying to force something on a ball that really should be hit some other way. I hope that makes sense.

[5263]

Fedman, its best when the mixing is done with intent. ie.. your opp has big western grip and you want to give him some low angle slices that stay down and challenge his style. Sometimes it takes a couple of shots to get there, cause you probably want to do this off a mid court ball to get the angle and skid you desire. Throwing in a couple of loopy, high bouncing balls to his BHs might give you the mid court look you need. He may stay aggressive, but keeping him from a rhythm may be the edge you need.

[SlapShot]

Though I am very new to tennis, I'd imagine that randomly mixing up your shots isn't a good strategy. In fact, it's not really a strategy at all. IMO, you should play what you are naturally given, and find the best way to make the best offensive shot you can with that ball, instead of trying to force something on a ball that really should be hit some other way. I hope that makes sense.

Mixing your shots up is one of the best ways to keep your opponent off balance. If they can get into a groove against your usual pace and spin, you aren't going to have a good chance at really forcing their hand.

Personally, I find that I tend to use slice to tace some pace out of a rally against guys who like pace, or I'll loop a big topspin groundie deep to push my opponent back, and try and force a short ball.

As far as knowing when to do so, you need to read your opponent. Some guys thrive on slice, and will slice back and be happy, but as soon as they get a groundstroke above their shoulders, they panic. If you know that, groove a couple of shots, and then really turn over one and try and force their hand.

[Bagumbawalla]

At least 2 people above, the HRK and 5263, are correct in that you don't want to just mix things up by hitting a random assortment of balls back to the other court.

In fact, the opposite is the case. You want to hit every ball to a specific spot, with a specific spin, for a specific purpous.

With that in mind, then, "mixing it up" tends to mean something like- not falling into the same pattern of shots so that the opponent comes to anticipate the placement, and varying your pace and spin enough that the opponent does not groove to your one standard shot.

So, an example of mixing up shot migh be something like-- You normally set your opponent up with two successive shots to the backhand (sometimes 3) and then hit a forehand drive to the opposite corner.

Instead, you might "fake" a shot to the forehand corner, but, instead, drive the ball behind him with his weight moving the wrong way.

Or your opponent may get used to a topspin forehand exchange and just try to outlast you. You can change things up in various ways (but all for a purpous). You could drive him wide then dropshot to the far side of the net-- or slice and follow the ball to the net, or, or, or many other things, but not random things.

[fedmanSix.OneTour]

Ok, thats starting to make sense, mixing it up is not a strategy by itself but something to add on to your game.

[SlapShot]

Ok, thats starting to make sense, mixing it up is not a strategy by itself but something to add on to your game.

Mixing it up is a strategy, but it's one that should be used with a purpose. You shouldn't simply randomly slice or hit a big loopy topspin shot without an idea of why you are doing so.

[WBF]

Though I am very new to tennis, I'd imagine that randomly mixing up your shots isn't a good strategy. In fact, it's not really a strategy at all. IMO, you should play what you are naturally given, and find the best way to make the best offensive shot you can with that ball, instead of trying to force something on a ball that really should be hit some other way. I hope that makes sense.

You obviously don't want to 'randomly' mix it up, and (for instance) end up hitting a loopy forehand to a guy at net who can put it away, but you absolutely want to mix it up in terms of shot selection. Hitting the best offensive shot you can with each ball is a terrible strategy, do not listen to this advice. Your opponent will know know exactly what your going to hit.

Here are some examples. Say you are each central on the court, slightly behind the baseline. While you can absolutely flatten out the ball (or go for a spin-ladden large angle) and go for an offensive winner, these would be risky and inappropriate shots. A loopy, topspin ball to your opponents backhand, a cutting slice with an angle requiring movement foreward and to the side, or some other ball that the opponent may have difficulty with would be far more appropriate.

Another situation: You are stretched fairly wide, and your opponent is relatively central at the baseline. Sure, you can go for a powerful passing shot down the line or cross court, but these shots will not only be improbable, but if they happen to go in, and your opponent does get to them, chances are you will be in poor position due to the effort involved in your powerful shot. A more appropriate shot would be a very loopy spin-ladden shot that gives you ample time to recover, and forces your opponent to generate their own power. If they aren't of a certain level, a very high lob could also work, giving you the chance to recover, and forcing them to execute an overhead from deep in the court, which can be difficult for some people.

Finally, there will be certain situations where you should go for the offensive shot. If your opponent is out of position and offer you a shot with reasonable pace to your wheelhouse, go for a powerful shot, keeping it far away from your opponent, but not very close to the lines. You will either come up with a winner, a sitter, an error from your opponent, or a very, very unlikely offensive shot from your opponent that happens to go in.

Hitting as offensively as possible on every ball is stupid. I have never seen a reasonable player who does this. Ever. (Unless you consider balls that put your opponent off balance/out of position/uncomfortable offensive.)

[spot]

Mixing it up is for suckers. You should stick with what works until the team you are facing starts to hurt you with it- at that point change things and get less predictable. But if you have a return that is winning you points then by trying to do the 2nd or 3rd best return available to you its playing right into their hands.

[fuzz nation]

Good thoughts here, gang.

Mixing it up can mean a whole bunch of things, but you need to keep an inventory of what it either gives you or takes away from your opponent. I played a really tough singles match against a solid teaching pro last year and whenever we got into a baseline rally, I looked to vary my pace and spin to keep him from dialing in on me (he told me later on that it was effective against him). Since I'm a better net rusher than baseline gunslinger, my "mix" induced some short balls that I could attack, but I also gave him some short, off-speed balls that he could push me around with.

So some of my mixing was counterproductive because I gave up the dreaded short ball to my opponent when I needed to keep him back behind his baseline. The lesson that I learned was that mixing my shots/tactics can be good as long as I'm hitting good shots that are having an effect on my opponent. Otherwise, I need to use what I do best to pick on my opponent's weakness. Mixing things up early in a match can help you find the weaknesses, but you don't necessarily need to do it all day.